I wanted to briefly note two intriguing public opinion surveys relevant to Middle East policy debate --- one from the United States, and one from Jordan. Both suggest reasons for doubting popular calls for an activist American policy towards Syria and the broader Middle East.... for better or for worse.

Dear people of the world, Jordanians who believe in internet without censorship supported the campaign against SOPA and ACTA. We bloggers and active people online in Jordan now have our own battle to fight in order to keep our internet out of governmental hands.

We’re fighting censorship from a government that is willing to do anything to close our mouths from speaking our minds, from blogging and reporting the news. We’re in real danger and we need all the help and support we could get.

What's life like for a 25 year old Saudi man who wants to be a female?

"My family put holy water and oil on me to “cure” me. They tried everything they could think of. It even went as far as using incense on me for months because they believed that I was under a spell, or possessed by a jin. They even went as far as saying it must be a female jin. "